John Patrick Shanley's Doubt

John Patrick Shanley, author of the play Doubt, is of the belief that “it is doubt...that changes things,” (Preface to Doubt). Shanley has concluded that “certainty,” is toxic and results in unfounded comfortability in a world that is constantly changing (“Meanwhile: I Am”). In the preface to Doubt, Shanley goes on to mention that when someone is uncertain or does not feel confident about what is occurring, it will lead to “growth.”. This means that although it would be all too easy to hide from change and flee from the unknown instead of embracing change and all that comes with it, when one accepts what change has to offer they can grow as a person. Shanley furthers his belief in his article “Meanwhile: I Am, Therefore I Doubt,” with one of …show more content…
Instead, I think that one’s character determines how he will react to the doubts he has. If one has strong character and a desire to overcome what bothers him, then, yes, doubt will cause change. But it can just as easily lead to one withdrawing from a challenge due to fear of failure. Throughout my life I have experienced countless situations where I have doubted myself and whether or not it has led to a positive change varies. During my earlier childhood I was extremely overweight and doubted that I could ever do anything to change it. It was not until the summer after my freshman year that I overcame my fear of failure and tried to better myself, and due to this change I am much more comfortable with myself. It took me years of living with doubts of my ability to change myself to try, so it is inaccurate to claim that doubt and change is a causation relationship as Shanley does. I have had innumerable experiences with friends where they doubt their abilities or intellect. Oftentimes instead of that doubt sparking a need for change, it resulted solely in sadness or a desire for solitude. After hours of needless self-loathing and friendly reassurance, then that doubt could turn into a motivator. For some people in some cases doubt can lead to change, but this is far too general a claim to apply to the masses and be deemed a